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We asked our Twitterati friends as to what feminism means to them; this is what they had to say. Read, and be enlightened!
“A feminist is anyone who recognizes the equality and full humanity of women and men.” ― Gloria Steinem
The word ‘Feminism‘ is a much misunderstood word; a word that many of us don’t want to be associated with. If you have come across the Tumblr photo collection of women holding signs explaining why they “don’t need feminism” you will know how misunderstood this word is.
So why is ‘feminism’ viewed under such negative light? This is because most people though well educated lack the perspective to either understand the issues women fight for, or choose to ignore them as too radical. Others who believe in the equality of genders don’t want to be identified as a feminist because of the most common, derisive taunts thrown at feminists: “manhater”.
Last week, we had our weekly #Womenonthemove chat on Twitter and asked ‘What did feminism mean to our readers?’ This is what emerged.
(If you’re not yet following Women’s Web on Twitter, do now, and you can come over for the chat too, every Wednesday 6-7PM IST).
@womensweb To be equal to the ones who abuse who shows our place — Deepti Sutaria (@DVSutaria) November 9, 2016Never miss real stories from India's women.Register Now
@womensweb To be equal to the ones who abuse who shows our place
— Deepti Sutaria (@DVSutaria) November 9, 2016
@womensweb To remind women of their rights and men of their duties #WomenOnTheMove — Sakshi Dutt (@sakshi2487) November 9, 2016
@womensweb To remind women of their rights and men of their duties #WomenOnTheMove
— Sakshi Dutt (@sakshi2487) November 9, 2016
@womensweb 🙂 pic.twitter.com/M3rGfpntyZ — Nandhitha Hariharan (@Nandhitha) November 9, 2016
@womensweb 🙂 pic.twitter.com/M3rGfpntyZ
— Nandhitha Hariharan (@Nandhitha) November 9, 2016
@womensweb if you truly understand what feminism is, you wouldn’t shun it. — Nandhitha Hariharan (@Nandhitha) November 9, 2016
@womensweb if you truly understand what feminism is, you wouldn’t shun it.
@womensweb You hv to behave in a certain way & if you go out of line u r branded as too #modern.#Feminism teaches u 2 be urself so it’s bad — Sakshi Dutt (@sakshi2487) November 9, 2016
@womensweb You hv to behave in a certain way & if you go out of line u r branded as too #modern.#Feminism teaches u 2 be urself so it’s bad
1.Male Chauvinists 2.Patriarchal pressure https://t.co/U5CN9Eqa17 — Deepti Sutaria (@DVSutaria) November 9, 2016
1.Male Chauvinists 2.Patriarchal pressure https://t.co/U5CN9Eqa17
@womensweb not the country And on this it’s not even the men..it’s us!we need 2 define “feminism” n be sure what we want from it!#lookwithin — Shruti Basu (@shruti_s_basu) November 9, 2016
@womensweb not the country And on this it’s not even the men..it’s us!we need 2 define “feminism” n be sure what we want from it!#lookwithin
— Shruti Basu (@shruti_s_basu) November 9, 2016
@womensweb Feminism is about women’s rights & opportunities, their freedom, equality, respect and privacy.When we say No it means No. — Bhina23 (@Bhina23Bhina231) November 9, 2016
@womensweb Feminism is about women’s rights & opportunities, their freedom, equality, respect and privacy.When we say No it means No.
— Bhina23 (@Bhina23Bhina231) November 9, 2016
@womensweb #WomenOnTheMove to makeup for the lost time , to change regressive policies,for our daughters and sons a chance to equal future. — Jainee Gandhi (@ImageReDefine) November 9, 2016
@womensweb #WomenOnTheMove to makeup for the lost time , to change regressive policies,for our daughters and sons a chance to equal future.
— Jainee Gandhi (@ImageReDefine) November 9, 2016
@womensweb Sexist jokes r insensitive a lot of times ppl don’t realise the hurt they can cause. Shd be discarded by both #WomenOnTheMove — Sakshi Dutt (@sakshi2487) November 9, 2016
@womensweb Sexist jokes r insensitive a lot of times ppl don’t realise the hurt they can cause. Shd be discarded by both #WomenOnTheMove
@womensweb Feminism is the freedom to express myself freely without being questioned in my Indian values and culture #womenonthemove — Sakshi Dutt (@sakshi2487) November 9, 2016
@womensweb Feminism is the freedom to express myself freely without being questioned in my Indian values and culture #womenonthemove
@womensweb @pinthecreep Some of the women who told me about the importance of unbridled freedom are the maids working at our place.
— A Delhi Dame (@ADelhiDame) November 9, 2016
@womensweb. More than feminism India needs #girleducation to empower them to understand #feminism. — Safecity/Reboot (@pinthecreep) November 9, 2016
@womensweb. More than feminism India needs #girleducation to empower them to understand #feminism.
— Safecity/Reboot (@pinthecreep) November 9, 2016
@womensweb the world still needs feminism and always will and today proved that in more than one way 🙂 — Nandhitha Hariharan (@Nandhitha) November 9, 2016
@womensweb the world still needs feminism and always will and today proved that in more than one way 🙂
@womensweb #USElection2016 has made a mockery of #feminism. Its shocking to see sexism win over integrity and dedication. #womenonthemove — Vaishali Gandhi (@vaishali178) November 9, 2016
@womensweb #USElection2016 has made a mockery of #feminism. Its shocking to see sexism win over integrity and dedication. #womenonthemove
— Vaishali Gandhi (@vaishali178) November 9, 2016
Most qualified woman in the world loses to the least qualified man in the world. In case If you were confused about what misogyny looks like — Sam Rosenholtz (@srosenholtz) November 9, 2016
Most qualified woman in the world loses to the least qualified man in the world. In case If you were confused about what misogyny looks like
— Sam Rosenholtz (@srosenholtz) November 9, 2016
Unbelievable that such blatant misogyny exists rampantly! @RGVzoomin please get your act together! https://t.co/XQ2WJbbsOM — CSR India (@CSR_India) November 9, 2016
Unbelievable that such blatant misogyny exists rampantly! @RGVzoomin please get your act together! https://t.co/XQ2WJbbsOM
— CSR India (@CSR_India) November 9, 2016
Image: flickr
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